“WILT THOU NOT REVIVE US AGAIN?”
This was the fervent prayer of the Psalmist in behalf of himself and Israel. How sadly and yet solemnly appropriate it now is, to the numerous churches of our land, and to the thousands of their members! How important that we all at once adopt it as our own—that we cry earnestly and mightily to God, “Wilt thou not revive us again?”
Wilt thou not revive us? We all know what is meant by a revival. It is a time when the Holy Spirit is poured out on individuals and communities; when with many, and often with multitudes, the mind is thoughtful, the conscience tender, the heart serious; when the sanctuary is filled, and truth is powerful, and prayer frequent and earnest; when Christians are refreshed and quickened, and backsliders restored, and sinners are converted to Christ. It is a time when the power of the world is broken, and angels in heaven rejoice, and the church on earth is blessed. A revival! It is the richest blessing we can ask or God bestow, whether for ourselves, our children, families, friends, neighbours, for the church, or for the world. A revival, with all its hallowed influences, we should most earnestly desire, and for it importunately plead. Not for riches, honors, pleasures—not even for worldly comforts further than God sees them needful and best for us; but for the special influences of the Holy Spirit—that God would revive us.
Wilt thou not revive us? It is God, and only he can do it. All our dependence—all our hope is in him. Vain is the help of man. Means are in vain if he does not quicken; truth powerless if he does not apply; effort idle, if he does not prosper it. Paul may plant, or Apollos water, but God giveth the increase. Deeply, then, let us feel our dependence, and that all our help must come from him. Realizing that our strength is but weakness, let us look unto the hills whence our help cometh—to the Lord which made heaven and earth. Unto him let us cry, Wilt thou not revive us again?
Wilt thou not revive us again? It is the thought of past mercies that quickens the Psalmist to plead for more. And so the remembrance of past revivals should rouse us to pray for the same blessedness again. Most of us have known, by delightful experience, what it is to enjoy an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In such a season, how have we witnessed the union, joy, humility, prayerfulness of Christians—their renewed fidelity and zeal; the conviction and conversion of the impenitent; the addition of multitudes to the church; the salvation of many from the world! In some such season, it may be, that mo were first converted, or that we have been refreshed from on high, or that our children, or friends, hare been brought to Jesus, to learn of him, and find rest to their souls. Sacredly hallowed, soul-cherished season! Every thought of it inspires the heartfelt prayer, Wilt thou not revive us again?
Wilt thou not revive us again? The blessing is indeed great. Let us plead and plead earnestly with God, that he will grant it. Let us “wrestle like Jacob, that we may prevail like Israel.” For Zion’s sake, let us not rest—for Jerusalem’s sake, let us not hold our peace, till the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. Deeply do we need spiritual blessings; and God is their only source, and prayer the divinely appointed means of obtaining them. “For all this,” the Most High expressly declares, “will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.” O, then, let us ask, that we may receive—let us seek that we may find them. From every heart, let the prayer, in faith, ascend, Wilt thou not revive us again?
Wilt thou not revive us again? Let this be the prayer of every church and of every disciple. Let it rise from the closet, the family, the prayer-meeting, the sanctuary. Let us offer it humbly—with a deep sense of our unworthiness; earnestly—in full view of our necessities; penitently—sincerely mourning our past remissness, and each one searching out, and putting away his own sins; evangelically—in the name of Christ; perseveringly—giving the Most High no rest, till he come and build up his kingdom, and glorify His name in the salvation of many souls.
PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION.
